1. The Orchard Growth Partners 2009 BOWL Survey
With the economy now officially in recession, and most businesses prioritising survival over the next 24 months, the quest for work-life balance seems to have taken a back seat. Is this really true, and if so what does it mean for us as individuals? Ash Mehta, Chief Executive of Orchard Growth Partners and Chris Chapman, until recently a director of Library House, which provides intelligence on innovative private companies discuss the issues in the context of the current business environment and launch the 2009 Business Outlook and Work-Life) BOWL Survey.
Click here to participate in the survey (It takes 1 minute 45 seconds and is worth getting to page 5)
2. AIM Prospects for 20092008 was a pretty terrible year for investors with the FTSE 100 index falling by 36% over the year. The AIM market fared even worse as investors hurried quickly away from the higher risk small companies. But what of 2009 for AIM?
Michael Crockett, Editor of Aimzine
www.aimzine.co.uk , considers what may happen this year.
3. Getting the banks to lend to you
It's official. The Government wants businesses to borrow and has instructed banks to lend. Antony Doggwiler, a Principal with Orchard Growth Partners explains that it's not quite that easy but that with some preparation you can access the new schemes recently announced by the Government.
4. Non Executive Director Awards
Orchard Growth Partners was pleased to be present at the NED Awards, with our partner the Non Executive Directors Association, not just to see John Sargeant perform (compereing that is not dancing) but also to be in the company of some excellent NEDs. The overall winner was James Leng of Corus. Full details in the next newsletter.
5. And finally Cyril........
In tribute to Cyril Trevellian Fletcher 1913-2005 - We salute you.
With a new President in the White House, it's perhaps time to look afresh at the US and after eight years try to remember what we always admired about the country.
Innovation, freedom, endeavour, Budweiser, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and of course free and open speech!
For example, When the chief executives of America's big three automakers flew last year in separate corporate jets from Detroit to Washington to ask the US government for a bail-out, there was widespread outrage. It prompted US congressman Gary Ackerman to ask: "Couldn't you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here? It would have at least sent a message that you do get it."
Graeme Weston, COO of the shared jet ownership business NetJets Europe, was even more free with his speech: "They were bozos - there are times when flying privately is inappropriate and when you're being saved by the government is one of them. If I was in their shoes I'd have jumped in a hybrid car and driven 1,000 miles."
Well done Graeme Weston. Alas, in the UK we often maintain too much diplomacy in our communications but this needs to change. So, the search begins now for the Orchard 2009 Award for Free Speech. It could be something you've read about or even something you or a colleague have said. Send me your examples to
cyril@orchardgrowth.com .
We hope you enjoyed the newsletter. Please send us your comments on any of the articles or if you'd like to contribute an article to a future edition let us know at info@orchardgrowth.com .
Until next time!
The Orchard Team
Orchard Growth Partners Limited.
